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The opening of the tourist season is just around the corner. As it has been announced. Tourism “opens” officially on May 15th, with our country returning to normal by opening the borders for tourists from European countries and beyond.
The big question, however, is whether tourism companies will be able to achieve their goal this year. And be able to stand on their own two feet after a long and difficult period due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In a not-so-pleasant development – but not condemnatory – Greece and Cyprus remain on the “orange” list of Britain, which means that those returning from these countries will have to quarantine for 10 days and undergo two diagnostic tests for Covid-19.
Travellers from countries in the “green” category must be tested before departure and two days after arrival in the UK.
Greece hoped to be in the… green from Britain, which is a traditional “force” in the field of tourism in our country. However this list will be re-evaluated on the “island” in a few weeks and so all eyes are on Britain. With Greece anxious about whether it will eventually be included in this “green” list, so that it is automatically a more attractive destination for British tourists.
But what is happening now in our country?
Grigoris Tassios, President of Hoteliers of Greece, Manolis Varkarakis, President of Hoteliers of Agios Nikolaos of Crete, the Deputy Mayor of Tourism of Naxos Vangelis Katsaras and the President of Hoteliers of Paros Mania Abatzis speak to newsit.gr and Magda Tes while they also answer whether they are optimistic about the tourist season that starts on May 15th.
Grigoris Tassios – President of Hoteliers of Greece: “As long as the country is not green, we will not have reservations”
“Reservations at the moment are minimal. About 15% of hotels will open on May 15. Most people want to start when they see bookings. In fact, there must be a 40% full booking in order for the hotel to open, and this clearly leads to the end of June. This year the season will last until September and will actually start in August. I have been saying this for two months. I am entitled to another year. We are waiting if any demand becomes a booking package, from July we can do better. This has to do with epidemiological data. If the country is not green, we will not have reservations. So fast vaccination and individual responsibility. Because otherwise no reservations will be made without the health and safety of customers.
The context has been clear for a long time. As long as the country is not green, we will not have reservations. Tour operators want to work with the country. There is a long way to go from want to action. So right now if you do an internet search you will see that there are no specific flights and times for the summer. So all this has to do with epidemiological data. It is very clear. Let’s go to the end of June. I always talk about average for some fullness. I personally will open on June 4th. It is a 150 room hotel in Halkidiki. On June 4 we will open with 10 rooms. On June 10 there are 25 rooms. So there is no issue. Therefore, as long as we have red epidemiological data, the financial data of the hotels will also be red “.
Source: newsit.gr
